Braves' Breakout Players, Most Disappointing to Start 2024 Season

The Atlanta Braves didn't need to do much to tweak one of baseball's best rosters during the offseason, but the addition of Reynaldo López in free agency is quickly shaping up to be one of the smartest decisions of the winter.

His success moving back into a starting role after pitching primarily in relief in recent years has helped solidify the starting rotation alongside trade pickup Chris Sale, and while those two deals have paid huge dividends, the same can't be said for their other offseason trade.

Outfielder Jarred Kelenic showed flashes of living up to the hype that made him one of baseball's top prospects last season with the Seattle Mariners, but he has taken a step backward during his first year in Atlanta.

Ahead we've taken a closer look at those two players who carry the title of biggest breakout and biggest disappointment so far, along with also shining some light on a player enjoying a more under-the-radar breakout.

With A.J. Minter coming off a strong season, Tyler Matzek back healthy and Aaron Bummer acquired from the Chicago White Sox during the offseason, Dylan Lee entered the year as the fourth lefty bullpen option on the Atlanta roster.

The 29-year-old posted a 2.13 ERA in 46 appearances during his first extended look in the big leagues in 2022, but he was less effective last year with a 4.18 ERA and 1.35 WHIP in 24 games.

While he is pitching mostly in low-leverage middle relief spots, he has been one of the team's most effective relievers this year, logging a 1.27 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 8.0 K/9 with two holds in 13 appearances.

With club control through 2028, he is quietly emerging as a valuable long-term piece.

Jarred Kelenic was the No. 4 prospect in baseball at the start of the 2021 season, but he struggled to find his footing in the majors, hitting .168 with a 66 OPS+ over 558 plate appearances in 2021 and 2022.

The 24-year-old turned a corner last season, posting a 109 OPS+ with 25 doubles, 11 home runs, 49 RBI and 2.0 WAR in 105 games, but he missed seven weeks after suffering a fractured foot from kicking a water cooler.

The Mariners decided to move on during the offseason, packaging him along with Evan White in a salary dump move that sent pitching prospect Cole Phillips the other way.

Expected to replace Eddie Rosario as the primary left fielder, Kelenic is hitting just .248/.295/.352 for an 83 OPS+ with seven extra-base hits and a 33.9 percent strikeout rate in 112 plate appearances.

If someone were putting together a ranking of the best moves of the 2023-24 offseason, the three-year, $30 million deal given to Reynaldo López would be a great starting point.

The 30-year-old was once a top prospect in the Washington Nationals system and a promising young starter for the Chicago White Sox, but his career stalled on the South Side and he spent the bulk of the last three seasons pitching in relief.

After posting a 3.27 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 11.3 K/9 with six saves and 22 holds in 68 games last year, the Braves signed him with the intention of returning him to a starting role, and it could not be going better.

In eight starts, he has a 1.54 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 44 strikeouts in 46.2 innings, and his 2.91 FIP is a good indication that his strong start is at least somewhat sustainable going forward.